Tag Archives: fairly tales

According to Washington Irving, the concept of Santa Claus emerged in the United States beginning in 1773. In Washington’s 1809 book the History of New York, Americans borrowed from Sinterklaas, a thick-bellied Dutch sailor with a pipe in a green winter coat. Commercial stores began to advertise Christmas shopping in 1820, followed by separate sections for holiday advertisements in 1840. In 1841, thousands of children visited a Philadelphia shop to see a life-size Santa Claus model. The tradition of blending a real life Santa Claus to attract Christmas shoppers began in 1918.

Now they were also bringing their babies to Him, so that He would touch and bless them, and when the disciples noticed it, they began reprimanding them, Luke 18:15.

For the unchurched, Santa Claus has slowly replaced Jesus as the reason for this season. As atheists, liberals and progressives continue to be offended by nativity scenes set up in public squares, law suits, public pressure and political correctness is eliminating the traces of this sacred holiday. As a generation of babies, toddlers and young children have sat upon the laps of adults dressed up as Santa Claus, the concept of a baby Jesus is fading away. Meanwhile, when asked by men in a red suit, “what do you want for Christmas,” Santa Claus has been elevated by many unknowing children to a god like status.

See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ, Colossians 2:8.

Apparently, fairly tales and wise old tales was not just a modern phenomena. According to the apostle Paul, first century leaders who opposed Christianity began to develop plans to mislead followers of Christ. These schemes appear to have been successful in deceiving some believers who did not possess a strong spiritual foundation. The context of the passage above refers to becoming rooted in Christ, relying on the Bible and prayer to serve as a spiritual guide through life. Anyone who does not practice similar spiritual disciplines are vulnerable to believing in lies, John 8:44. This dilemma has led me to ponder, who will today’s children believe: baby Jesus or the man in a red suit?